Detachable button set



Feb 28, 19 50 B. w. BIRNKRANT ETAL 2,499,086

DETACHABLE BUTTON SET Filed June 19, 1947 I INVENTORS BB'MY W BIRNKRANT S Mum. H. BIRNKRANT BY gm ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28 1950 DETACHABLE BUTTON SET Betty W. Birnkrant and Samuel H. Birnkrant,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 19, 1947, Serial No."755,648

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved detachable button set, one of the features of the present invention being the provision of enabling a woman or other person to replace a lost button, by the simple operation of extending a spring guarded pin through the holding fabric and the retaining loop of the button, the spring guarded pin being constructed to resist accidental displacement of the button from the holding fabric and yet permit of manual removal of the button for cleaning or laundering purposes.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a button set with a pin having a fabric penetrating arm formed with a loop to receive the loop of the button, and so constructed that pressure is maintained on the fabric to hold the loop of the button against accidental displacement from the fabric.

Another object of the invention is-to provide a button set which permits of an unlimited variation in the type of button head used, and 'prvoides a safety pin which can be manufactured at low cost from standard machinery.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had-to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims, in which the various features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view through a fabric, showing the improved button set.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, showing the lateral safety locking bend of the holding pin.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the position of the button loop upon the loop of the safety pin. I I

Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the button set, constructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

The button set, according to the first form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, includes a button head having a metal loop or eye II secured thereto according to any standard practice.

Buttons of the type shown, which have an ornamental, pearl shaped ball head, are frequently used on delicate garments, and to pre vent tearing of the fabrics of these garments when they are cleaned or sent to the laundry, it is good practice to detach these buttons.

In the carrying out of the present invention, a pin shank I2 is employed, which is formed on the spring loop I3, of the bar I4. This bar I4 is provided with a sheet metal point guard I5, of U-shaped construction, and one leg I5 of this guard is fixed to the end of the bar I4, and the other end is open to receive the tapered point I 2 of the pin shank I2. The pressure of the spring coil or loop I3 tends to separate the point I2' from the guard I5, so that the point may be easily forced through the garment fabric.

The pin shank I2 is formed with a relatively small loop I6, which is designed to snugly receive the loop or eye II of the button head. In order to prevent accidental displacement of the loop I6 in the button head eye II, the bar I4 is formed with a lateral bend or loop II, which projects over the pin shank I2, and which is bent toward the pin shank, so that spring tension is maintained on the fabric at the point it is pierced by the pin shank.

The small button holding loop I 6 is extended through the fabric, and this displaces the loop or eye I I of the button head so that it has a minimum of frictional bearing on the fabric, and turns on the holding loop I6 so'that there is only slight wear on the fabric. This tends to prevent the rapid enlargement of the holes formed by the pin shank at the points of penetration of the fabric.

The lateral bend or loop I! tends to hold the fabric on the pin shank I2 with a minimum of relative movement, and thus tends to maintain the original position of the pin on the garment.

The lateral wave or bend II'of the pin bar I4 also serves to prevent the accidental opening of the pin shank I2 in its guard I5, so

that the button will not be accidentall displaced from the garment.

Due to the fact that the smaller loop I 6 extends through the fabric of the garment, the pull of the button head by its eye II will tend to prevent the pin shank I2 from being displaced from its guard l5.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 5, thebend or loop I I of the pin bar I4 is extended longitudinally to provide a flat side which engages the side of the pin shank I2 on opposite sides of the loop I6 thereof. This arrangement is such that the bend or loop I'I' closes the open. side of the loop I6 and retains the eye II of the button In against longitudinal movement along the length of the pin shank I2 and further acts to retain the pin shank I 2 against movement relative to the garment when the button I0 is mounted in position thereon.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts in each of the several views.

The invention can be applied to all types of garments, Working clothes, dress garments, uniforms for industrial or homeservice, or otherwise, but is particularly useful for fine and delicate dress fabrics.

The invention provides a simple and quickly used connector for holding any type orstyle of button head on any garment for temporary or permanent use. This connector may be used for placing a different style of buttons on a garment, so as to give a dress or garment a changed appearance.

It is to be understood that the buttons H3 may be of any style and design and instead of loop ll they may have a soft backing and be engagedb the loop it as previously described.

The pin is normally concealed in the back of the garment, and only the button head is visibleto an observer. No skill is required to extend the pin shank through the holding eye of the button head, and no tools are needed to complete the connection.

The safety locking pin can be manufactured on standard automatic machinery with a change only of the forming tools, and this adds greatly to the commercial utility of the invention.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: I

l. A pin for attaching a button having an eye to the fabric of a garment, comprising a pin bar having a point guard mounted on one I end thereof, a pin shank integrally formed with said pin bar and having a pointed end for engagement through the fabric, through the eye of the button and then back through the fabric for releasable engagement with said point guard, a loop formed in said pin shank intermediate of its ends and extended laterally away from said pin bar to project through the fabric and engage the eye of the button, and means on said pin bar intermediate of its ends and directed toward the open side of said loop for retaining the eye of the button in engagement with said loop and for retaining said loop in a fixed position with relation to the fabric to prevent longitudinal movement of said pin shank relative to the fabric when the pointed end of said pin shank is in engagement with said point guard, said pin bar and said pin shank being spaced when the pointed end of said pin shank engages said pin guard, said means comprises a single loop formed on said pin bar intermediate of its ends and in alignment with said first loop to extend across said space to a position at the open side of said first loop.

2. A pin for attaching a button having an eye to the fabric of a garment, comprising a pin bar having a point guard mounted on one end thereof, a pin shank integrally formed with each pin bar and having a pointed end for engagement through the fabric, through the eye of the button and then back through the fabric for releasable engagement with said point guard, a loop formed in said pin shank intermediate of its ends and extended laterally awa from said pin bar to project through the fabric and engage the eye of the button, and means on said pin bar intermediate of its ends and directed toward the open side of said loop for retaining the eye of the button in engagement with said loop and for retaining said loop in a fixed position with relation to the fabric to prevent longitudinal movement of said pin shank relative to the fabric when the pointed end of said pin shank is in engagement with said point guard, said pin bar and said pin shank being spaced when the pointed end of said pin shank engages said pin guard, said means comprising a single loop formed on said pin bar intermediate of its ends and in alignment with said first loop to extend across said space to a position at the open side of said first loop, said single loop being extended completely across said space and having a fiat side of a length to engage the adjacent side of said pin shank on opposite sides of the open side of said loop to close the open side of said first loop when the pointed end of said pin shank is engaged with said point guard.

SAMUEL H. BIRNKRANT. BETTY W. BIRNKRANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 330,282 Atkin et a1. Nov. 10, 1885 342,182 Chew May 18, 1886 482,621 Currier et al Sept. 13, 1892 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 624,369 Germany Jan. 18, 1936 

